All

1. of time

2. “I’d really like to know
more about
the
of the Bible.
What can I uncover?”
Millennial Kingdom
Grace
Law
Human
Gov’t
Promise
Conscience
Innocence
Image: Ryk Neethling

3. Let me start with dispensation’s basic meaning.
that God used during a particular period of time to reveal His
mind and will to humankind” (Christian Guidebook).
“For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against
my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed against
me” (1 Cor 9:17).
God tested humankind to show them that they could not be
obedient to God without undergoing inward change

4. seven dispensations:
1. Innocence (Gen 1:28)
2. Conscience (Gen 3:7)
3. Human Gov’t (Gen 8:15-17)
4. Promise (Gen 12:22)
5. Law (Exod 19:1-8)
6. Grace (Isa 11:1; Matt 1:1; John 1:17; Acts 2)
7. Millennial (Eph 1:10; Rev 20)

5. :
Innocence
Conscience
Human Gov’t
Promise
Law
Patriarchal
Promise
Starlight
Jewish
Law
Moonlight
Grace
Christian
Grace
Sunlight
Millennial
Kingdom or Messianic or Fullness

6. Self-Check Question 1:
?
A. You learn God’s plan for humankind leading to
the good news of Jesus Christ
B. You systematically study the various historical
periods of the Bible from the standpoint of
grace
C. You get peer into the lives of the people with
whom God dealt, and even the land and
geography upon which they lived

7. Question 1 Answer:
?
All three are the correct selections.
When you study the dispensations you put
together the outer edge of the puzzle pieces that
frame God’s Big Story for humanity.

8. “
Now, I’ll take a broad view of the dispensations
Eichenberger’s three for a broad view
of history through the dispensations…
Christian
(or Church)
Patriarchal
Jewish
(or Mosaic)

9. During the Patriarchal Dispensations
WHEN: At the earliest age of humankind
WHAT: God revealed His will to some of the
patriarchs
WHO: Adam, Noah and Abraham

10. During the Jewish Dispensation
WHEN: When God gave Moses the law
WHAT: People would be blessed when they
obeyed and punished when they
disobeyed
WHO: Moses through Nehemiah

11. During the Christian Dispensation
WHEN: Upon the Holy Spirit’s outpouring on
Pentecost until the rapture of the
Church
WHAT: God dispenses salvation and blessing
by His grace
WHO: Through the death, burial, resurrection
and ascension of Jesus Christ as the
Blood Sacrifice for sin
Root, 1998, p. 32

12. The Dispensations: A Brief Timeline
Patriarchal M
Age
o
A
d
2,500 years
a
m
s
e
s
Jewish Age
1,520 years
Redemption promised: Animal sacrifice required to atone for sin
J
e
s
u
s
Christian Age
Millennium Age
AD 32 - ?
Kingdom of God
Redemption provided: Christ, a finished sacrifice atone for sin
Innocence
Law
Grace
(Gen 1:28-3:6)
(Exod 19:1-8 & Acts 2)
(Isa 11:1; Matt 1:1; John 1:17, Acts 2; Rev 20;
Eph 1:22-23; 2:3-10;4-1-6)
Conscience
(Gen 3:7-6:7)
Human Gov’t
(Gen 9-11)
Promise
(Gen 12-19)
Millennial
(Eph 1:10; Rev 20)

13. A Closer Look at the Timeline
Matthew McGee, ©1998

14. Self-Check Question 2
?
A. Through special revelations to the patriarchs
B. Through natural revelation to everyday people
C. Through Christ Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and
ascension as infallible evidence of the Blood Sacrifice
for our sin

15. Question 2 Answer:
Answers A and C.
God dealt with His people through patriarchs (or
family heads) in the earliest ages of time.
God also spoke directly to Moses, “whom the Lord
knew face to face” (Deut 34:10b NKJV).
Additionally, He revealed His will through the events
of Jesus (God manifested in flesh) surrounding the
cross.
Humankind has had free will choice to accept or
reject God’s will throughout the ages.

16. “
Can I uncover more?
I’d like to learn more about how God’s grace
flows through the ages and the people with
whom He dealt…

17. Also Called Patriarchal Dispensations
Overview
Test/Responsibility
Judgment
Innocence (Gen 1:28)
God gave Adam and Eve Not to eat from the fruit of sin Failed the test of faith. God drove
innocence, perfect in their
Adam and Eve out of the garden →
sinlessness and devotion
They experienced spiritual death (Eph
to God; He walked daily
2:1), knowledge of sin, moral
with them
conscience, loss of fellowship and
fear of God followed (Gen 3:23-24).
Conscience (Gen 3:7)
God provided, by grace, a Blood sacrifice for their sins Humankind failed the test of faith
in faith--Do all known good
substutionary animal
once more → Flooded the earth,
and abstain from all known
sacrifice for sin
singling out Noah and his family
evil
forgiveness as evidence
(Gen 6:7)
of faith
Human Gov’t (Gen 8:15-17)
God gave humankind
Humankind failed again → God
Salvation dependent upon
the faith of the believer-authority to govern
confounded their language &
Human law was insufficient
themselves
scattered them over the earth. He
for righteousness
singled out one family (Gen 11:5-9;
12:1-3)
Promise (Gen 12:22)
God made certain
Abram was to go the
Abram failed the test due to lack of
promised land, the fruit of his faith and did not stand on the
promises to give Abram
faith
promises of God; and instead went to
the land to which He
Canaan
would send Him

18. Also Called
Overview
God tested man’s
obedience to the Law of
Moses
Test/Responsibility
Law (Exod 19:1-8)
The law had ten
commandments with 613
laws.
The Israelites were to keep
God’s covenant as a school
master to lead them to Christ
(Gal 3:24), separate them
from other nations (2 Cor
6:17) and make them a
peculiar treasure to the Lord
(Exod 19:5)
Jewish
(or Mosaic)
Judgment
Israel rejected God’s statutes and His
covenants made with their fathers →
The Lord rejected all the seed of
Israel, and afflicted them, and
delivered them into the hand of
spoilers (2 Kings 17:20)

19. Also Called Christian or Church Dispensation
Overview
Christ died on the cross
to atone for all sin’s
debt—past, present and
future—and fulfill the law
(Matt 5:117-118).
Test/Responsibility
Grace (Isa 11:1; Matt 1:1; John 1:17)
Faith in Christ’s death and
resurrection as sufficient to
pay for one’s sins and
assurance for eternity.
Judgment
Until Christ returns, people have a
choice to accept or reject Jesus as
their Savior--His death, burial and
resurrection atoned for our sin →
People face separation from God
into eternity by not accepting Jesus
as their Savior, repenting for the
remission of sins and being born of
the water and Spirit
Also, Kingdom Dispensation
Overview
Christ died on the cross
to atone for all sin’s
debt—past, present and
future—and fulfill the law
(Matt 5:117-118).
Test/Responsibility
Millennial (Eph 1:10; Rev 20)
Faith in Christ’s death and
resurrection as sufficient to
pay for one’s sins and
assurance for eternity.
Judgment

20. Self-Check Question 3
True or False?
_____ A. Descendants lived in the Garden of Eden at
one time, and later God scattered them.
_____ B. Abraham’s lack of faith for God’s provision
prevented him for reaching the promised
land and fulfilling God’s promise.
_____ C. Each dispensation shows humankind’s
obedience in faith to the will of God.

21. Question 3 Answer:
Statements A and B are true.
God scattered people across the earth because
they failed the test of faith in defiance to His will.
At one time, He wiped out all the people from the
earth except for Noah and his family and restored
it again.
Humankind relied on their own will due to their
sinful nature, which is why God sent a Savior to
redeem them with the New Covenant.

22. Self-Check Question 4
_____ A. The Bible lays out seven dispensations of God’s
dealings with humankind. Five already occurred.
One exists today. Another yet has arrived.
_____ B. Blood sacrifice is the work evidenced by the faith
of the offerer in the Old Covenant dispensations.
The one Sacrifice Jesus already offered His blood
and asks for our faith in Him in the New Covenant.

23. Question 4 Answer:
Answers A and B.
The Kingdom dispensation has yet to come, while all the
Old Covenant dispensations occurred. Currents, the people
of God live in the New Covenant dispensation of Grace.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast” (Eph 2: 8-9 KJV).

24. “
?
So, what did I learn?
• A dispensation is a plan or method that
God used during a particular period of
time to reveal His mind and will to
humankind” (Christian Guidebook).
• The dispensations occurred from the
Fall to the Kingdom yet to come.
• God progressively reveals His will
through the dispensations for the
purpose of shaping His people into His
image through grace.

25. References
• Chafer, L. S. Bible doctrines: Dispensations. Cited on March 1, 2014, from
http://www.slideshare.net/rdc2506/chafer-bible-doctrines-dispensations
• Larkin, C. The seven dispensations Chart: Cited on March 1, 2014, from
http://www.biblelife.org/dispensations-big.jpg
• Scofield, C. I. The seven dispensations: Rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Cited
on March 1, 2014, from http://www.biblelife.org/dispensations.htm
• Ryrie, C. Dispensationalism. Chapter two. Cited on March 1, 2014, from
http://www.biblecentre.org/topics/ccr_2_dispensationalism.htm
• Wikipedia, Dispensationalism. Cited on March 1, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism
Images:
Self Check, www.gafnervisual.com

26. Walking Through the Word 1
Online Supplemental Resources
All Nations Leadership Institute
4501 W. 127th St.
Alsip, IL 60803
of time
www.allnationsleadershipinstitute.org